The Vaal, Thursday 29 April

The Vaal Classic track hosts Thursday`s South African races, a 9 race card with a 12:05 start time.

Track Info & Deez`s Selections

Race Track: Turf. 2800m oval track. Races up to 1000m straight course; beyond 1000m clockwise round turn with 1000m run-in.

Best Draws: High-number draws favoured over 1000m; low-number draws best 1200m and 1450m.

Pen - 22
Going - Good
False Rail - 4m back straight 5.5m on the bend with 5m spur at 600m mark.

Off Times

Race 1 - 12:05
Race 2 - 12:35
Race 3 - 13:05
Race 4 - 13:40
Race 5 - 14:20
Race 6 - 14:55
Race 7 - 15:25
Race 8 - 16:05
Race 9 - 16:45


Exotics

Bi Pot (Races 2-7 )
P A (Races 3-9 )
Pick 6 (Races 4-9 )
Jackpot 1 (Races 5-8 )
Jackpot 2 (Races 6-9 )

Deez`s Selections

DOUBLE
R8 - Baymax
R9 - Black Thorn

JACKPOT
5/5/1/1

Computaform news.tabonline.co.za/FieldsPDF/Computafo.../VAAL@2021.04.29.pdf

ELIUD CAN OPEN THE PICK 6 TODAY

David Thiselton

THE Vaal Classic track stages a nine race card where there look to be opportunities for both exotic and on the nose punters.

The highest rated race is a Graduation Plate over 1600m which forms the first leg of the Pick 6. Eliud is progressive and this rangy, big-actioned horse is capable of a strong finish from off the pace, so looks the one to beat having finished close to the smart VDJ entry Puerto Manzano last time. Shah Akbar had become a bit disappointing but when tactics were changed from front-running to hold up he ran on well for fourth in the SA Derby. This will be on the sharp side but he can be involved if held up again. He might also revert to front-running in this small field as there is an opportunity to dictate. Indy Go, stablemate to Eliud, is the other possible pace setter.

The second leg of the Pick 6 is a Progress Plate over 1200m and Against The Grain is interesting dropped down in trip. He has always had some class and he has decent close up form this season behind useful sorts. The last time he ran over this trip on the Turffontein Inside track he came from last with a strong run to finish a 1,50 lengths third to the decent Fire And Ice. He now has a good draw of two in a small field so can mow them down especially considering he is the second best-weighted behind the three-year-old Action Packed who hasn’t run for eight months. Kayla’s Champ has pole position and if repeating her good run last time over this trip can be thereabouts too. Spring Break loves this trip around the turn and can also be included. Visiway has a lot of pace but has a wide draw. Action Packed finished a 2,80 length fourth in the Grade 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over this trip around the Hollywoodbets Greyville turn last time so has a shout if anywhere near his best.

In the sixth race Emerald Crest impressed last time when coming from the back over this trip at Turffontein Inside with a strong run to get up. She is just three points higher and can afford to be dropped out from a wide draw. Dubawi Princess comes off a good run over this course and distance in which she beat Kayla’s Champ and she has a good draw of three. Too Phat To Fly flew up to win over 1450m last time and is effective over this trip too so from a plum draw she is interesting off a five point higher mark. May Queen started slowly last time and then went handy before fading so it just didn’t pan out but she is better than that and can’t be written off. She is capable of dominating a race if breaking well. Rise As One and Desert Pride have the ability to be involved too.

In the seventh over 1450m Rodger The Dodger is off a competitive merit rating at present and from a good draw can go close over a suitable trip. Midnight Gem looks to have scope for improvement and was staying on over 1200m last time so should handle the step up in trip. Stop For Nothing is capable of a strong finish over this distance so can be dropped out from a tricky draw and run on. He is just one point higher than his last winning mark so has a shout. Flower Season is interesting dropped in trip as she had good form over this sort of distance early in her career and she is off a competitive merit rating. Into The Future is capable of better than last time when racing a bit strongly with no cover but he has a tricky draw.

In the eighth race over 1800m Baymax and Afraad have close up form over middle distances with Pamushana’s Pride, who is now rated 116, so they should be strong contenders here. Validus is capable of a strong finish over this trip and could also be involved.

The value of the day is Manterio in the last race over 2000m. He has decent form over 1600m but is probably crying out for this trip being by Oratorio, who won two Group 1s over 2000m, out of a Sadler’s Wells mare who is a full-sister to Gold Circle Oaks winner Front House. He has a fair draw of five. Black Thorn ran on well over 1800m last time and looks the main danger.

The best of the day is Spanish Song in the third over 1200m. She lost a lot of ground on debut over this trip but ran on in eye-catching style to finish third just 4,75 lengths behind the promising Hotchiwitchi who has won again since as has the runner up Greenhill. Spanish Song over-raced last time when unplaced over 1400m so will appreciate the step back down in trip and from a good draw she will be hard to beat against an uninspiring field if settling better than last time and if the first-timer Lollapalooza doesn’t prove to be smart.

Auld Jimmy from under his stairs

Competitive card despite only 3 Handicaps being carded; unfortunately the 'set weights' races imo look closely matched - thoughts:

R2: Not a lot on form between the raced runners; value imo could be Stolen Kiss, who is trading at 16/1, but finished less than half-a-length behind the other shorter priced runners

R3: I do fancy La Sicaria - improved last time in a strong-looking Maiden behind Royal Wulff (won again since) and also finished in front of subsequent winner Love Lies; good draw and faces a moderate field, so imo should start much shorter than 10/1 (was 12/1 yesterday); Dancing Arabian from pole position probably the biggest danger, but she has proven to lack a finish and may have to settle for 2nd again

R4: Small field - Shah Akbar looks best in here despite dropping in trip - has finished only 4 lengths behind Malmoos over 1800 and to me that form looks better than Eliud's run behind Puerto Manzano - but Eliud may be better suited by the 1600 - so it could get close between the 2; both Indy Go and Bowie looks slightly outclassed by the other 2, but this could turn into a canter and sprint - so would not be the biggest upset should any of them catch the others flat-footed

R5: Another small field, but bar Harry's Secret, any of these can win imo; Action Packed looks well in here, but may not be ready after a long break - I'm loading up

R6: First of the Handicaps; and not easy; Emerald Crest in good form, but will need some luck from a wide draw; May Queen the one to beat on form, but also does not have an ideal draw; Brooklyn Bridge is consistent (bar her last effort) and does look well in here on her runs to Dubawi Princess and Desert Pride (who has pole position
and seems to be finding some market support); Too Phat to Fly imo has more to do and also may prefer more ground

R7: Weak field, where an upset is not impossible imo; 3 form runners are Roger the Dodger, Midnight Gem and Into the Future (needs to give a lot of weight); Encore has pole position and tries further again - also has been declared to race with no blinkers as well as a tongue-tie - so could be an upset possibility; scraping the barrel I found Father TIme, who has been dropped 21 points since June last year (and 13 points since finishing 2.25 lengths behind Roger the Dodger over 1400 in Dec) - also 5 kgs better off with Into the Future for a 5.25 length beating) - so at a stretch could also be considered even from a wide draw - as he may have enough gate speed to get to the front

R8: Last of the Handicaps; should not be a lot between Baymax, Validus (tries blinkers) and Afraad; I prefer those 3 from Earl

R9: Black Thorn improved after gelding, and any further improvement will make him hard to beat imo; Manterio probably the main danger if seeing out the 2000; Soldier's Song has had many chances and should be held by Black Thorn, unless Bling can somehow extract more

Enjoy

good ride by LH on Meet The Captain...

Bowie...looked well but badly out at the weights...

Impressive win from Eliud

Well done to Candice and Craig and the connections 👍

Kayla's Champ
Harrys Secret
sw

Dubawi Princess...

Cream Soda...outside place sw